diff --git a/cmd/ipfs/pin.go b/cmd/ipfs/pin.go
index fcebe6c4d..5919168b1 100644
--- a/cmd/ipfs/pin.go
+++ b/cmd/ipfs/pin.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ var cmdIpfsPin = &commander.Command{
 
 func init() {
 	cmdIpfsPin.Flag.Bool("r", false, "pin objects recursively")
+	cmdIpfsPin.Flag.Int("d", 1, "recursive depth")
 }
 
-var pinCmd = MakeCommand("pin", []string{"r"}, commands.Pin)
+var pinCmd = MakeCommand("pin", []string{"r", "d"}, commands.Pin)
diff --git a/core/commands/pin.go b/core/commands/pin.go
index 5dbbf6304..40b452ffa 100644
--- a/core/commands/pin.go
+++ b/core/commands/pin.go
@@ -9,11 +9,19 @@ import (
 
 func Pin(n *core.IpfsNode, args []string, opts map[string]interface{}, out io.Writer) error {
 
-	// if recursive, set flag
-	depth := 1
-	if r, ok := opts["r"].(bool); r && ok {
-		depth = -1
+	// set recursive flag
+	recursive, _ := opts["r"].(bool) // false if cast fails.
+
+	// if recursive, set depth flag
+	depth := 1 // default (non recursive)
+	if d, ok := opts["d"].(int); recursive && ok {
+		depth = d
 	}
+	if depth < -1 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("ipfs pin: called with invalid depth: %v", depth)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("recursive, depth: %v, %v\n", recursive, depth)
 
 	for _, fn := range args {
 		dagnode, err := n.Resolver.ResolvePath(fn)